SAVE OUR STOCKS

Innovative new fish welfare measures to safeguard stocks are unveiled

Club reveals plans for ‘retirement’ pond for its fish

ONE OF Britain’s biggest angling clubs has adopted a forwardthinking approach to fish welfare by retiring any carp it finds in its waters with mouth damage to specially set-aside stock ponds.

The refreshing move comes from Cheshire outfit Lymm AC, whose officials discovered the problem after netting the Rowan and Yew Tree ponds on its Belmont complex near Northwich. “There was evidence of mouth damage on our carp, which had been caused by anglers,” says club fisheries manager Neil Boaz, “so we decided to retire those fish to ponds where no fishing is allowed.

“These aren’t just holes in the ground like you’d normally see on a fish farm – they’re mature waters with well-established habitats, and the fish going into them will be fed regularly.

“By retiring some of the stock, we hope that the venue will lose its runs water tag and will become a complex focusing on fish welfare, containing only specimens that are in pristine condition.”

The club plans to introduce other progressive measures to boost the protection afforded to its prized stocks.

“We’ll be removing snags, which can

tether fish, and creating extra natural cover for them to use as refuge from predatory birds. In addition, there will be rules brought in requiring anglers to carry carp medical kits to treat any damage, as well as a new booking system on the waters,” Neil adds.

“Anglers will be more accountable for their time on the bank, which in turn will help to eradicate some of the bad practices seen on the complex in the past.”